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Educational Survey of 

Wilkinson County 

Georgia 






By 

M. L. DUGGAN, Rural School Agent 



No. 21 



Under Direction of State 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 



M. L. BRITTAIN 
State Superinteodent of Schools 
1918 



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Monograph 



Educational Survey of 

Wilkinson County 

Georgia 



By 
M. L. DUGGAN, Rural School Agent 



No. 21 



Under Direction of State 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 



M. L. BRITTAIN 
State Superintendent of Schools 
1918 




HON. VICTOE DAVIDSON 
WILKINSON COUNTY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. 

HON. VICTOR DAVIDSON, Superintendent Irwinton, Ga. 

BOARD OF EDUCATION. 

HON. GEORGE H. CARSWELL, Chairman Irwinton. Ga. 

HON. J. H. PENNINGTON Mclntyre. Ga. 

HON. L. E. THOMPSON Toombsboro, Ga. 

HON. J. T. STOKES Gordon, Ga. 

HON. W. T. PORTER Danville, Ga. 

MISS OLA SAMMONS. Home Economics Agent Irwinton, Ga. 



0, of Dt 
JUN 29 11918 



WILKINSON COUNTY 



Wilkinson county is located near the geographical center 
of the state, and just below the Fall Line. Its drainage is 
east and southeast into the Oconee river, which marks its 
eastern boundary. 

"The county is noted for its extensive deposits of kaolin 
and bauxite. The output of the kaolin mines, which is 
used chiefly in the paper trade, is greater than any other 
county in the State. The bauxite mines also have a large 
output. 

The geological formations in which these deposits are 
found and which cover practically all of the county, are 
known as Cretaceous and Eocene. They were laid down in 
the open sea when the Atlantic coast line extended as far 
north as Columbus, Macon, Milledgeville, and Augusta." 

DR. McCALLIE, State Geologist. 

Aside from the mining of kaolin and bauxite, and a pulp 
mill making paper from second growth pines, this is strictly 
an agricultural county. There is only one town above 300 
population, and none above 1,000. The chief, and almost 
the only, commercial product of the farms is cotton ; al- 
though the upper part of the county is well adapted to 
growing watermelons, and a considerable number of cars 
are shipped. The cotton crop runs around ten thousand 
bales. 

RESOURCES. 

The area of the county is 431 square miles, and the popu- 
lation 10,078. The main line of the Central of Georgia Rail- 
way running from Atlanta to Savannah traverses the county 



for twenty-five miles from northwest to southeast, and the 
Milledgeville Branch of the same line runs from a junction 
point at Gordon northward through the county eight miles. 

Property as returned for taxation, 1917 $1,986,000.00 

To which should be added Corporation values.- 767,485.00 



Making a total of taxable property for county $2,753,485.00 

PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS. 

With the exception of the three local tax school districts 
of Irwinton and Gordon and Mclntyre the county has no 
public school funds other than that apportioned to it from 
the State. 

The State school fund for 1917 amounted to $10,586.00 

This was apportioned to the school districts on a basis of 
$5.00 per capita by the school census to the white children, 
and $ per capita to the negroes. 

With such meager support the public schools can be op- 
erated for only five months on small salaries. 

A BETTER SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOLS. 

The children can not be properly educated with only a 
five months school year. Better schools and longer terms 
are imperative if the county ever expects to go into the 
business of education seriously. These can not be had with- 
out more money. Good schools, like good roads, must be 
paid for. And there is no certain or satisfactory way ex- 
cept through a county local school tax to supplement the 
State school funds. The educational interest of the county's 
children call loudly for it. 



GEORGIA. 

NOTE: An experience with county-wide local school tax is the 
most effective argument for it. Counties adjacent to local tax coun- 
ties, seeing its benefits, most readily vote for it. See map. 




Shaded Counties: County-wide Local Tax. 



LOCAL TAX COUNTIES. 

These counties tax themselves in order that all — not some — of their 
schools may be improved. One by one others are adding themselves 
to the roll of the educational leaders who demonstrate thus practically 
their belief in the necessity for more and better training for the 
children. A few years ago only Chatham, Richmond, Bibb, and Glynn 
had county-wide local taxation: 

Bacon, Ben Hill, Bibb, Bryan, Burke, Butts, Camden, Chatham, 
Clarke, Clinch, Coffee, Columbia, Crisp, DeKalb, Echols, Emanuel, 
Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Hart, Henry, Houston, Irwin, Jas- 
per, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Jones, Lee, Lincoln, Mcintosh, Mitchell, 
Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muscogee, Newton, Pulaski, Quitman, 
Rabun, Randolph, Richmond, Screven, Spalding, Stewart, Talbot, 
Terrell, Tift, Walton, Wayne, Wheeler, Worth. 



WHAT WOULD GOOD SCHOOLS COST THE COUNTY? 

A county-wide local school tax levy of two and a 
half mills, or twenty-five cents per hundred dollars, 

would yield $ 6,883.00 

to which would be added State schools funds, 

1918 12,608.40 



making a total school fund for the county $19,491,40 

An increase over 1917 of $8,905.40, or 85q. 

Such an increase would justify the county Board of Edu- 
cation in operating all of the county's schools seven or eight 
months, paying better salaries, providing better equipments, 
and gradually building better school houses. It should 
within a year or two guarantee to every child in the county 
fully twice as good educational opportunities as they now 
have. 

Fifty-two Georgia counties (as shown on map) are no 
longer withholding these benefits from their children, but 
are cheerfully paying the self-imposed school tax while 
their children are reaping the benefits therefrom. "People 
are more important than property." 

Wilkinson county should decide this question between 
their children and their property without further delay. 
And it is worth their while to consider that of this two and 
three-quarter million dollars of property that would thus be 
lightly taxed for the benefit of their schools just about half 
of it (including the corporate property) belongs to non-resi- 
dents. Which means that each dollar paid for the educa- 
tion of their own children would be duplicated by non-resi- 
dents. These non-residents, however, would be benefited 
in the increased value of their property, and would therefore 
gladly pay the school tax. 



ADMINISTRATION. 

The Board of Education in Wilkinson county seems to 
have inherited a very bad policy in the matter of adminis- 
tering the pubHc school funds, such as was never contemp- 
lated in law, and that tends inevitably towards the weaken- 
ing and destruction of any strong and efficient system of 
schools for the county. The plan has been to apportion 
annually the state funds to the local trustees of the school 
districts on the basis of the school population of the several 
districts, leaving entirely to these local trustees the number 
of schools, their locations, the grades and salaries of the 
teachers, length of term, etc. Thus it is seen that in some 
school districts the meager amounts thus apportioned is 
divided into still smaller amounts between two or three small 
schools within close proximity to each other. The spirit of 
the law has been violated in the matter of minimum distance 
apart for the schools, and the potential strength of these 
schools greatly weakened by their many subdivisions in 
answer to individual or community whims and prejudices. 
The county seems to be divided into about the right maxi- 
mum number of school districts contemplated by law (the 
minimum size prescribed being sixteen square miles) , but 
there are at least one-third more schools in the county than 
the law contemplates. By more than that much are they 
weakened. 

SOME EVIDENCES AND RESULTS OF A WEAK 

SYSTEM. 

The frequent changing of teachers is both a result and 
evidence of the general weakness of the system. Two-thirds 
of the teachers are serving their first term at their present 
school, and more than one-third hold below first-grade li- 
cense. No teacher below first grade is serving a second term 
at same school. The short length of the school year and 
the short terms of teachers' service partly account for the 
noticeable absence of organized club work, or 'Associated 



Activities", everywhere now-a-days regarded so highly in 
progressive public schools. The school grounds are gen- 
erally unimproved and neglected. At many only one toilet 
is provided, at some they are "in bad condition", while at 
others none are to be found. None of the school houses are 
well planned, only few are made attractive, and some are 
uncomfortable. At most of them there is provided no equip- 
ment other than a poor blackboard and a very cheap map 
or two. Comparatively few of the schools offer attractions 
to pupils or passers-by. Only one school has a "Georgia 
Standard Certificate", although several others are striving 
to reach the standard. The people of the county generally 
are not proud of their public schools, the teachers are not 
satisfied with their work, and the children are not afforded 
as good facilities for thorough education as they deserve or 
as the county is able to provide for them. 

HOPEFUL SIGNS. 

The growing general dissatisfaction at existing conditions 
is a hopeful sign if a wise and vigorous administration will 
take proper advantage of it. Nobody in the county realizes 
the inefficiency of the system or the unsatisfactory con- 
dition of the schools better than the county superintend- 
ent. A strong system and better schools are not likely to 
be brought about except through his leadership; but his 
leadership towards such an end will be unavailing without 
the authority of his Board of Education and the support of 
a public sentiment throughout the county. The latter, how- 
ever, will assuredly follow the former. It will undoubtedly 
require a courageous and continued fight to revolutionize 
the weak system, but the cause is well worth it. 

The Home Demonstration Agent, just beginning her work 
here in full and cordial co-operation with the superintendent 
and his schools, brings to the county a new and powerful 
educational agency that will be far-reaching and effective 
if properly received and encouraged by the people. That 

8 



it is being so received we are led to believe from the fact 
that every school responded to her personal appeals for girls 
to join her canning clubs, resulting in a total of more than 
two hundred members enrolling during her first visit to 
these schools. Better evidence, however, will be shown by 
the per centage of this two hundred that persists to the end 
of the year. 

The superintendent is manifesting very great interest and 
energy in his work, and the Board of Education could not 
do a better thing for the schools than to employ his whole 
time and energies in the interest of public education in the 
county. The surpassing importance of so great a public 
interest would fully justify the necessary expenditure. 

The sole purpose in this endeavor to reveal to the patrons 
and citizens of the county the true conditions of their public 
schools is to aid them to a better realization of their inade- 
quacy. If this is accomplished we believe they will be en- 
tirely willing to make some necessary sacrifices for the sake 
of better educational facilities for their county. With the 
earnest hope that this report may contribute to such end 
it is respectfully submitted to the careful consideration of 
all good citizens of Wilkinson county. 



M. L. DUGGAN, 
Rural School Agent for Georgia. 



January 15, 1918. 




TALMADGE INSTITUTE. 

(A Standard School.) 

Teachers: L. D. Grice, Principal; Miss Mabel Hunter, Miss Rubye 
Culpepper, Assistants, P. O. Irwinton, Ga. 

Location: At County seat; population about 300. 

Grounds: Area, several acres; titles in trustees; well sodded, but un- 
improved; ample playgrounds; w^ell kept yards; two toilets 
in good condition. 

Building: Value $1,600.00; two-story frame building; three class 
rooms; cloak rooms improvised; fairly well lighted; ceiled 
and painted; well kept; building is not well planned and does 
not meet the demands of the community. 

Equipment: Double patent desks and teachers' desks; cloth black- 
boards; set of maps mounted in case; globe; charts; framed 
pictures; reference dictionary; small library, good sectional 
book-case. 

Organization: Three teachers; nine grades; enrollment 68; school 
population of district 83; school year nine months continu- 
ous term; Talmadge Institute Library Club; Canning Club. 

Maintenance: From state school fund $415.00; the local tax district 
levies five mills. 

Canning Club Members: Misses Florence Hartley, Mary Alice Stin- 
son, Ploride Carswell, Benita Dixon, Lucile Gibbs, Margaret 
King, Alice Parker, Beulah Pennington, Loise Billue, Rosa 
Lee Dean, Madeline Simpson, Gladys Pennington, Bessie Skel- 
ton, Claire Careswell, Ellen Carswell. 

10 




GORDON HIGH SCHOOL. 



Teachers: J. N. Sarrette, Principal; Miss Cora Hall, Miss Izetta 
Davis, Miss Mae Pope, P. O. Gordon, Ga. 

Location: On Central of Georgia Railway at junction of main line 
and Milledgeville Branch. Population about 1,000. 

Grounds: Area, one and half acres; titles in trustees; bare and un- 
improved; playgrounds ample, but unimproved; no school 
gardens; two toilets in bad condition. 

Building: Value $3,000; two-story frame building; unsuitable; four 
class rooms; no cloak rooms; improperly lighted; fairly weh 
kept; in bad repair; painted outside only. 
(The school district has just voted for bonds for an up-to-date 
new building, by a majority of 100 to 1. The new building 
will be erected at once to cost approximately $16,000.00.) 

Equipment: Double patent desks; very poor blackboards; no charts; 
small globe; very few maps; no framed pictures; a reference 
dictionary; a school library, sectional case. (The new build- 
ing will be properly equipped with furniture and teachers' 
helps.) 

Organization: Four teachers; nine months continuous term; ten 
grades; enrollment 120; school population of district 133; 
programs posted; a literary society; a woman's club. 

Maintenance: From State school fund $665.00; five mills local school 
tax levy. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Ola Mae Branan, Lila Farmer, Mat- 
tie Belle Gibbs, Liela Mae Brooks, Calva E. Pitts, Clifford 
Dennard, Lucile Hawthorne, Charlie Fountain, Mary Ryle, 
Berta McCook. Mabel Jackson, Francis Camp, Annie Laurie 
Bloodaworth, Effie Bloodworth, Edna Vinson, Lottie Bying- 
ton, Hannah Isenby, Vernie Nelson, Nina Belle Stokes, Net- 
tie Gay, Helen Jennings, Beatrice Johnson. Winnie Taylor, 
Janie Fountain, Louise Brookings, Emmie Ezell. 

11 



1. Bell School. Mrs. E. N. Greene, teacher, Allentown, Ga. 

2. Chapman School. Mrs. T. B. Williams, teacher, Allentown, Ga. 

3. Cool Springs School. Miss Allie Penticuff, teacher, Allentown, Ga. 

12 



BELL SCHOOL DISTRICT. 

This school district has a school population of 104, receives from 
the county Board of Education $520.00, and divides it between the 
Bell school, the Chapman school, the Cool Springs school, and Sand 
Hill school. 

Locations: The location of these four schools within the same school 
district with reference to each other forms a triangle, the 
sides of which are two, two and half, and three miles. Thera 
appears to be no natural obstacles, such as "mountains, 
streams over which there are no bridges, dangerous roads, 
etc." 

Grounds: Each of these four schools occupies one acre; titles at Cool 
Springs in trustees, at Chapman school in private individual, 
at Bell and Sandy Hill schools doubtful. Yards well cleaned 
up, but unimproved at each place. No school gardens. Two 
toilets in fair condition at each school. 

Buildings: At each, one class room with veranda, but without cloak 
rooms; none properly lighted; no painting; Cool Springs in 
bad repair, the others in good condition; value, $450.00 ea.:-h. 

Equipment: Bell school has patent desks, good blackboards, charts, 
and a reference dictionary; but is without globe, maps, pic- 
tures, library, etc. Sand Hill, Cool Springs and Chapman 
schools have home-made desks, good blackboards, but no 
other equipment. 

Organization: These schools have one teacher each; five months 
term, and enrollments respectively of 22, 17 and 39 pupils. 
There are no organized clubs or societies, and the teachers 
are serving their first year at each place. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Mattie Cowan, Estelle Cowan, Myrtle 
Green, Lizzie Belle Butler, Evelyn Butler, Hattie Canby, 
Lucy Canby. 



13 




1. Red Hill School. Miss Mary Fountain, teacher, Gordon, Ga. 
2 Lavender School. Miss Ellen King, teacher, Irwinton, Ga. 
8. Glenella School. Miss Mary Smith, teacher, Mclntyre, Ga. 

14 



GLENELLA SCHOOL DISTRICT. 

Glenella district has a school population of 116, and is apportioned 
$580.00 of the State school funds by the county Board of Education. 
The local trustees divide this amount, which is not supplemented from 
any source, among- three schools located in the district, viz.: Glenella, 
Lavender, and Red Hill. 

Location: Glenella is three miles northeast from Red Hill, and Laven- 
der about three and half miles southeast. Other schools are 
located within three miles of each of these. 

Grounds: The Lavender school occupies one acre, the title of which 
is in the Board of Education. The grounds are being im- 
proved, and a school garden provided for. The Glenella lot 
(of uncertain size) has been used for school purposes from a 
time "when the memory of man runneth not to the con- 
trary". Both area and title at Red Hill are uncertain. At 
each place there is only one toilet in bad condition. 

Buildings: These are one-room buildings, without cloak rooms. Their 
value varies from $300.00 to $500.00, Lavender being the best 
one. Some further impi-ovements and enlargements, includ- 
ing cloak rooms, painting, etc., are in contemplation at Laven- 
der. This school is also the only one of the group properly 
lighted. All were well kept. 

Equipment: Glenella has double patent desks; the others home-made 
desks. Neither have good blackboards or maps. A chart 
and reference dictionary at Glenella; a small globe at Red 
Hill, and a small library at Lavender. Covered water cooler 
at Lavender. 

Organization: One teacher schools; school year five months; seven 
grades; enrollment. Red Hill 25, Lavender 27, Glenella 33; 
programs posted at each school. A Bird Club at Glenella. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Margaret King, Opal Jones, Vera 
Moss, Jessie Lavender, Jewell Lavender, Emmie Myrick, EtRe 
Bloodworth, Maggie Young, Lucy Lavender, Victoria Laven- 
der, Allena Moorary, Alice Bachelor, Louise Lee Stapleton, 
Ruble Culpepper, Alma Gladdin. 



15 




Fairview 



Hazeldean 



FAIRVIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT. 

Fairview school district contains two schools, viz.: Fairview and 
Hazeldean. The school population of the district is 142, and the ap- 
propriation from the Board of Education is $710.00, which is divided 
by the local trustees between the two schools. 

Location: Fairview is three miles west of Hazeldean, and three 
miles further west will reach Whitaker school in another 
district. There are no "mountains, streams over which there 
are no bridges, dangerous roads, etc." 

Grounds: Fairview is private property. Area and titles at Hazeldean 
seem uncertain. Playgrounds small at both places. No 
school gardens. Two toilets in fair condition at Hazeldean. 
No toilets at Fairview. 

Buildings: Hazeldean — value, $800.00; one class room; no cloak 
rooms; sufficiently but improperly lighted; in good repair; 
well kept; painted inside and outside. 

Fairview — value, $600.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; 
insufficiently lighted; in good repair; fairly well kept; ceiled, 
but unpainted. 

Equipment: At both schools home-made desks; poor blackboards; 
and no maps of value or any other equipment. 

Organization: One teacher; five months terms; enrollment, Hazel- 
dean 39, Fairview 47. No organized clubs or societies. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Berta Jones, Bessie Reynolds, Essie 
Mae Reynolds, Ella Bentley, Delia Bentley, Lizzie Allen, 
Louise Moore, Leah Deason, Marie Usry, Mabel East, Lucile 
Jones, Pearl Reynolds, Verdie Mae Waters, Ruby Tarpley, 
Mary Lizzie Woodall. 

16 




Salem 



Poplar Head 



SALEM '^CHOOL DISTRICT. 

The Salem school district contains two schools, Salem and Poplar 
Head, but these schools are four miles apart. There appears to be 
no other schools located nearer than about four miles of either of 
these. The school population of the district is 84, and the annual 
appropriation from the Board of Education is $420.00 to the district. 
There is no local fund. 

Grounds: Poplar Head is located in a very fine grove of large oaks, 
and the school owns eight acres of fine woodland. Titles are 
in the local trustees. The playgrounds are large, but with- 
out improvements. There are no school gardens. Only one 
toilet, in fair condition. 

Salem is located adjacent to a church lot, the limitations of 
which we are unable to ascertain. Titles are probably in 
the local trustees. Ample playgrounds available, but unim- 
proved. No school gardens. Only one toilet, in bad condition. 
Buildings: At Poplar Head one room with veranda; no cloak rooms; 
fairly well lighted; in good repair; well kept; ceiled, but 
unpainted. At Salem one room with veranda; no cloak 
rooms; improperly lighted; well kept; painted inside, un- 
painted outside. 
Equipment: At Poplar Head partly seated with single patent desks; 
first-class blackboards, and a reference dictionary, but no 
maps or other school equipment. 

At Salem double patent desks; first-class blackboards; good 
set maps mounted in case; framed pictures; a reference dic- 
tionary, and a small library. Also covered water cooler and 
individual cups. 
Organization: At both schools, one teacher; five months term; seven 
grades; enrollment at Salem 29; at Poplar Head 44. No 
organized clubs. 
Members Canning Club: Misses Lizzie Miller, Fleta Fordham, Emmie 
Sue Fordham, Loma Tillman, Bessie Fordham. Rosalee Orr, 
Emmie Montgomery, Nellie Carlson, Mintoria Lord. 

17 



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Mt. Carmel. 



18 



MT. CARMEL SCHOOL DISTRICT. 

The Mt. Carmel school district shows a census of 109 children. 
The Board of Education apportions $545.00, and the local trustees 
operate two schools in the district without further financial aid. 
These are Mt. Carmel and Whitaker, located two miles apart. Also 
the Bloodworth school is two and half miles northwest, and the 
Thompson Branch school is three miles north of Mt. Carmel; while 
Eairview school is three miles east, and Thompson Branch school 
three and half miles north of Whitaker. No "natural obstacles or 
dangerous roads" intervene. 

Grounds: Mt. Carmel school lot is the property of a church. Whit- 
aker school occupies three-quarters of an acre, with some 
uncertainty as to titles. The former is in a fine grove, while 
the latter is a bare lot. Neither have been improved. No 
school gardens. At each is only one toilet; both in bad con- 
dition. 

Buildings: Value of school houses $350.00 each. One class room; no 
cloak rooms; badly lighted; in good repair; well kept, un- 
painted; describes both buildings. 

Equipment: Rough home-made desks; poor blackboards; no maps, 
globes, pictures, reference dictionaries, or libraries. Both 
schools unequipped. 

Organization: Whitaker — five grades; enrollment 30; Mt. Carmel — 
seven grades; enrollment 49. No organized clubs. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Inez Langford, Carrie Carter, Alma 
Hatfield, Eva Lee Carr, Maggie Lou Langford, Ruth Hardee, 
Nina Carr, Charlie Arrington, Clara Whitaker, Dessie Moore, 
Aluetia Criswell, Willie Moore, Inez Whitaker, Maud Parker, 
Sarah Parker. 




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1. Bloodworth. 2. Bateman. 3. Snow Hill. 
20 



IVEY SCHOOL DISTRICT. 

In Ivey district are located Bloodworth school, Bateman school, and 
Snow Hill school. The locations of these schools with reference to 
each other form a triangle, the sides of which are respectfully two and 
half, three, and three miles. Also. Bloodworth is only two and half 
miles northwest of Mt. Carmel, and Bateman is only four miles east 
of Gordon, in other school districts. There are no "natural causes 
or local conditions", such as "mountains, streams over which there 
are no bridges, dangerous roads, etc.." creating for the county board 
of education the "right to establish school districts with areas less 
than sixteen square miles." 

The school population of this district is 97, and the local trustees 
are apportioned S48.5.00 for the maintenance of the three schools. No 
supplemental fund is provided. 

Grounds: Both the areas and titles of these school lots are doubtful, 
except that at Bloodworth it is private property. Play- 
grounds are small and unimproved, and there are no school 
gardens. Only one toilet provided at each school. 

Buildings: Value S400.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; ceiled but 
unpainted, describes each. Snow Hill and Bateman are in 
bad repair. Bloodworth is well kept school room. 

Equipment: Bateman has double patent desks, the other two seated 
with home-made desks. All have very poor blackboards; no 
maps or other equipment, except a small library at Blood- 
worth. 

Organization: Bateman school has six grades; enrollment 2-5 pupils. 
Snow Hill six grades; enrollment 3-5 pupils. 
Bloodworth eight grades; enrollment 40 pupils. 
Five months term at each. 

Bloodworth school reports weekly meetings of "The Glad 
Club." 

Members Canning Club: Misses Lelia Mae McCook, Essie Lord, 
Lonella Bloodworth, Clara Lord, Sarah McCook. Eva Blood- 
worth, Pauline Weaver, Eddie Bell, Mattie Etheridge, Fan- 
nie Lucile Beck, Mjrrtle Wood, Lucile Wood, Effie Mae Ne- 
Smith, Coy D. Snow, Ethel Snow, Rosa Snow. Nancy Eth- 
eridge. Essie Lee Etheridge. Inella Fountain, Annie Eliza 
Beck, Adeel Etheridge, Thelipa Burch. 

21 




Vernon Johnson. 







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Clear Creek. 



22 



CLEAR CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT. 

Clear Creek school district has a school population of 57, and <^ets 
an appropriation of 8285.00. Clear Creek and Vernon Johnson schools 
are in this district, though the latter is located immediately on the 
line dividing Wilkinson and Twiggs counties, and is partly supported 
by Twiggs county. Clear Creek is three miles north of Vernon John- 
son, and three miles further north will reach Red Hill school. The 
roads are good. 

The titles to the property at Clear Creek is in a Baptist church; 
the church yards used for playgrounds; no school gardens; only one 
toilet, in bad condition. 

At Vernon Johnson is a two acre lot, titles in trustees; ample play- 
grounds; small school garden; only one toilet, in bad condition. 

The building at Clear Creek is one room, without cloak rooms, 
ceiled but unpainted. in good condition and well kept. Value §450.00. 

At Vernon Johnson is a good two-room building; value $1,500.00; 
cloak rooms; fairly well lighted; well kept; painted inside and out- 
side. 

Double patent desks; fairly good blackboards, and one United States 
history map constitute the entire equipment at Clear Creek. 

At Vernon Johnson are single patent desks; poor blackboards; 
two maps; two globes; framed pictures; a reference dictionary; and 
a small library. 

At Clear Creek is one teacher; five months term; six grades; 27 
pupils enrolled; no organized club work; no program posted. 

At Vernon Johnson one teacher; five months for Wilkinson county 
pupils and six and half months for Twiggs county children; eight 
grades; enrollment 31; program posted. 

Members Canning Club: Bessie Brooks, Blanche Brooks, Peggie 
Brooks, Ruble Brooks. 



23 




ALLENTOWN SCHOOL. 

Miss Emmie Gordon, teacher, Allentown, Ga. 

Location: In Wilkinson, but quite near the corner of Wilkinson, 
Bleckley, Twig'gs and Laurens counties, with a small patron- 
ag-e from each. One mile east of Danville. 

Grounds: There appears some doubt as to area and titles; yards 
clean, but bare; unimproved; ample playgrounds; no school 
gardens; only one toilet. 

Building: Value $1,000.00; two-story frame building; Lodge rooms 
in second story; one very large class room; no cloak rooms; 
improperly lighted; roof leaking; painted; well kept. 

Equipment: Double and single patent desks; poor blackboards; one 
United States history map; chart; globe; small library; one 
hundred and fifty dollars in hand for further improvement 
and equipment. 

Organization: One teacher; nine grades; enrollment 27; no program 
posted; five months term. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Louise Herndon, Viola Herndon, 
Clara Herndon, Lizzie Sapp, Annie Mae Jones, Elizabeth 
Pierce, Isabelle Nunn, Beulah NeSmith, Lottie Little. 

24 




BETHEL SCHOOL. 

Miss Lila Gallemore, teacher, Irwinton, Ga. 

Location: Three miles southeast of Lavender school; five miles south- 
west of Irwinton. 

Grounds: Area and titles doubtful; yards well cleaned up; very small 
playgrounds; no school gardens; one toilet in bad condition. 

Building: Value $400.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; fairly 
lighted; in good condition and well kept; ceiled, but un- 
painted. 

Equipment: Home-made desks; very poor blackboards; one United 
States history map; no globe; no charts; no framed pictures; 
no reference dictionary; no library. Covered water cooler, 
• individual cups. 

Organization: One teacher; six grades; enrollment 27; no program 
posted; no organized clubs or societies. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Eva Justice, Irene Dixon, Louise 
Stinson, Effie Murphey, Maxie Sue Justice. 



25 




BUTLER SCHOOL. 

Miss Annette Butler, teacher, Danville, Ga. 

Location: Foui' miles north of Bell school. 

Grounds: Area and titles doubtful; bare and unimproved; ample 
playgrounds; no school gardens; only one toilet, fair con- 
dition. 

Building: Value $500.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; fairly well 
lighted; in good repair; well kept; ceiled; unpainted. 

Equipment: Double patent desks; very poor blackboards; several 
maps; no charts; no globe; no pictures; no reference dic- 
tionary; no library. 

Organization: One teacher; six grades; enrollment 11; no program 
posted; no organized clubs; five months term. 

Maintenance: School population of district 24; appropriation $120.00. 



26 




DANVILLE SCHOOL. 

E. B. Lazenby, Principal; Miss Lucy Bellows, Assistant, Danville, Ga. 

Location: The line dividing Wilkinson and Twiggs counties also di- 
vides the town of Danville, but the school is located on the 
Wilkinson county side of this line. 

Grounds: Area, one acre; titles in local trustees; fine grove; good 
playgrounds, rather small; yards well kept; no school gar- 
dens; only one toilet, in good condition. 

Building: Value $2,000.00; two class rooms; halls used for cloak 
rooms; well lighted; in good repair; not well kept; painted 
inside and outside. 

Equipment: Single and double patent desks and teachers' desks; 
blackboards in very bad condition; set of maps mounted in 
case; no charts; no globe; a few pictures; a reference dic- 
tionary; a small library. 

Organization: Nine months term; two teachers; ten grades; enroll- 
ment. 61 from Wilkinson county, 12 from Twiggs; Lanier 
Literary Society. 

Maintenance: School population of district (in Wilkinson county) 48; 
appropriation from Board of Education $240.00; small amount 
also paid by Twiggs county; balance from tuition. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Jennie Claire Meadows, Mellissa 
Porter, Marie Dukes, Lucile Williams, Mildred Maxwell, Lois 
Lee, Francis Johnson, Edith Johnson, Rose Allen, Louise 
Bryan, Lois Hill. 

27 




McINTYRE SCHOOL. 

J. T. Dupree, Jr., Principal; Miss Ophelia Snow, Assistant, Mclntyre, 

Georgfia. 

Location: At Mclntyre station on Central of Georjiia Railway; two 
miles south of Whitaker school; three miles north of Irwinton. 

Grounds: Area and titles doubtful; adjoining- church lot; partly cov- 
ered in pine grove; entirely unimproved; small playgrounds; 
no school gardens; two toilets, in bad condition. 

Building: Value $700.00; two class rooms; no cloak rooms; insuffi- 
ciently and improperly lighted; ceiled, but unpainted; in 
fairly good repair, and well kept. 

Equipment: Double patent desks and teachers' desks; poor black- 
boards; no maps; no charts; no globe; no pictures; no refer- 
ence dictionary; pupils have use of a small Sunday school 
library from church. 

Organization: Eight months term; two teachers; nine grades; en- 
rollment 62; no program posted; no societies or clubs or- 
ganized. 

Maintenance: School population of district 73; appropriation from 
county Board $415.00; Local district tax levy five mills. 

28 




MANSON SCHOOL. 

Miss Anilois Philmon, teacher, Danville, Ga. 

Location: Three and half miles southeast of New Providence; five 
miles northwest of Chapman school. 

Grounds: Area, two acres; titles in local trustees; fine grove; un- 
improved; ample playgrounds; no school gardens; only one 
toilet. 

Building: Value $450.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; fairly 
lighted; roof leaky; well kept; unpainted. 

Equipment: Double patent desks; good blackboards; no maps; no 
charts; no globe; no pictures; no reference dictionary; no 
library. 

Organization: Five months term; one teacher; six grades; enroll- 
ment .32; program posted; no organized clubs. 

Maintenance: School population of district 39; apportionment $195.00; 
no supplemental funds. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Geneveive Williams, Clara Knight, 
Bessie Lou Hall, Effie Collier, Alice Rutherford. 

29 




NEW PROVIDENCE SCHOOL. 

Mrs. C. E. Collins, teacher, Irwinton, Ga. 



Location: Three and half miles west of Pleasant Plains; three and 
half miles northwest of Manson school. 

Grounds: Indefinite area; titles in private individual; lot bare and 
unimproved; ample playg-rounds; no school gardens; only one 
toilet, fair condition. 

Building: Value $350.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; improperly 
lig-hted; new building; well kept; unceiled and unpainted. 

Equipment: Home-made desks; very poor blackboards; no maps; no 
charts; no globe; no pictures; no reference dictionary; no 
library. 

Organization: Five months term; one teacher; five grades; enroll- 
ment 21; no program posted; no organized clubs. 

Maintenance: School population of district 29; appropriation from 
county Board $145.00; no supplemental fund. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Ellen Burke, Gladys Burke, Ruby 
Sapp, Lucia Sapp. 

30 




OLD UNION SCHOOL. 

Miss Bessie Happoldt, teacher, Toomsboro, Ga. 

Location: Two miles northeast of Poplar Head school; five miles 
north of Salem. 

Grounds: Area, one acre; titles (?); whole lot in woods; unimproved; 
small playgrounds; no school gardens; only one toilet, in bad 
condition. 

Building: Value $450.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; improperly 
lighted; ceiled, but unpainted; in good condition and well kept. 
Also used for Sunday school and occasional preaching serv- 
ices. 

Equipment: Home-made desks; fair blackboards; no maps; no charts; 
no globes; no pictures; no reference dictionary; no library. 

Organization: Five months term; one teacher; five grades; enroll- 
ment 12; no program posted; no organized clubs. 

Maintenance: School population of district 35; appropriation from 
county Board $175.00; no supplemental funds. 



31 




PLEASANT PLAINS SCHOOL. 

Miss Leila Isreal, teacher, Danville, Ga. 

Location: Two miles west of Butler school; three and half miles 
east of New Providence. 

Grounds: Area, one and half acres; titles in trustees; wooded lot, 
unimproved; small playgTounds provided; no school gar- 
dens; only one toilet. 

Building: Value $600.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; fairly 
well lighted; in good condition and well kept; ceiled, but un- 
painted. 

Ekjuipment: Double patent desks; fairly good blackboards; four 
maps; no charts; no globe; no framed pictures; a reference 
dictionary; a good library. 

Organization: Five months term; one teacher; eight grades; enroll- 
ment 36; program posted. 

Maintenance: School population of district 52; appropriation from 
county Board $260.00; no supplemental funds. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Ardell Davidson. Ethel Davidson, 
Vera Jackson, Nellie Jackson, Myrtle Sanders. 

32 



I» 



W f«;ff!fffpi 




lllfH;; i 




POPLAR SPRINGS SCHOOL. 

Mrs. J. W. Lanier, teacher, Toomsboro, Ga. 
Location: Four miles west of 

Grounds: Area, one acre; titles in trustees; lot bare and unimproved; 
small playgrounds; no school gardens; no toilets. 

Building: Value $450.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; fairly well 
lighted; in good repair and well kept; ceiled, but unpainted. 

Equipment: Home-made desks; fairly good blackboards; no maps; no 
charts; no globe; no pictures; no reference dictionary; no 
library. 

Organization: Five months term; one teacher; seven grades; enroll- 
ment 35; no program posted. 

Maintenance: School population of district 50; appropriation from 
county Board $250.00; no supplemental funds. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Iris Dent, Celes Mercer, Orian 
Waters, Roberta Lord, Nora Brown, Johnnie Chambers, Myra 
Minton. 



33 




TOOMSBORO SCHOOL. 

Miss Mary E. Bales, Principal; Miss Ruth Marlin, Assistant, P. O. 

Toomsboro, Ga. 

Location: On Central of Georgia Railway. 

Grounds: Small town lot; titles probably in trustees; yards clean; 
very small playgrounds; no school gardens; two toilets in 
good condition. 

Building: Value $2,500.00; two class rooms; cloak rooms; well light- 
ed; building in good condition and well kept; floors oiled; 
painted inside and outside. 

Equipment: Good shop-made desks; cloth blackboards; several good 
maps; no charts or globes; good selection of framed pictures; 
no reference dictionary; library in good case; bubbling foun- 
tain. 

Organization: Seven months term; two teachers; ten grades; en- 
rollment 46; programs posted; an active Parent-teacher Club. 

Maintenance: School population of distict 85; appropriation from 
county Board $425.00; supplemented by local fees. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Nelle Bales, Hattie Dean, Pearl 
Dean. 

34 




SHADY GROVE SCHOOL. 

Miss Hoi'tense Wynn, Principal; Miss Eddie Stanley, Assistant, P. O. 
Irwinton, Ga. R. F. D. 

Location: No other school within five or six miles. 

Grounds: Area, five acres; titles in trustees; yards fenced and well 
kept; most of lot covered with g-rove and woods; ample play- 
gTounds; no school gardens; two toilets in good condition. 

Building: Value $1,200.00; two class rooms; no cloak rooms; fairly 
well lighted; in good repair and well kept; ceiled; painted 
outside. 

Equipment: Double patent desks and teachers' desks; poor black- 
boards; no maps; no charts; no globe; no reference dictionary; 
no library; framed pictures; organ. 

Organization: Five months term; two teachers; eight grades; en- 
rollment 67; program posted; no organtzed societies or clubs. 

Maintenance: School population of district 85; appropriation from 
county Board $425.00; no supplemental funds. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Ollie Mae Cannon, Eva Wright, 
Martha Pierce, Madeline Pierce, Alma Pierce, Opal Taylor, 
Rosa Lee Martin, Eula Pierce, Nina Downing, Mutelle Pierce, 
Alma Downing. 

35 




THOMPSON BRANCH SCHOOL. 

Miss Sara Lawrence, teacher, Milledgeville, Ga., R. 1. 

Location: Two and half miles northeast of Mt. Carmel; three miles 
northwest of Fail-view; three and half miles east of Snow 
Hill. 

Grounds: Area, one acre; titles doubtful; yards in g'ood condition; 
playgrounds small; no school gardens; only one toilet, con- 
dition bad. 

Building: Value $650.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; insuffi- 
ciently lighted; in good repair; not well kept; painted inside 
and outside. 

Equipment: Double patent desks (in bad condition); poor black- 
boards; no maps; good chart; no globe; no pictures; no refer- 
ence dictionary; no library; covered water cooler, individual 
cups. 

Organization: Five months term; one teacher; six grades; enroll- 
ment 46; program posted; no organized clubs. 

Maintenance: School population of district 60; appropriation $345.00. 
No supplemental funds. 

Members Canning Club: Misses Ruby Hoover, Sabrina Patterson, 
Ruth Grimes, Claire Carr, Gertrude Patterson. 

36 




TURNER SCHOOL. 

Miss Katie Rossee, teacher, Gordon, Ga. 
Location: Three miles northwest of Gordon. 

Grounds: Area, one acre; titles (?); lot entirely unimproved; very 
small playgrounds; no school gardens; only one toilet. 

Building: Value $400.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; fairly 
well lighted; in good repair and well kept; unceiled; unpaint- 
ed. 

Equipment: Double patent desks; very poor blackboards; State and 
United States history maps; no charts; no globe; no pic- 
tures; no library; a i-eference dictionary. 

Organization: Five months term; one teacher; seven grades; en- 
rollment 27; program posted; no organized clubs. 

Maintenance: School population of district 56; appropriation from 
county Board $280.00; no supplemental funds. 



Members Canning Club: Misses Gladys Cobb, Alma Cobb, Jewell 
Valentine, Bertha Happoldt, Nellie Happoldt, Pearl Cobb. 

37 



LETTER FROM STATE SUPERINTENDENT 
M. L. BRITTAIN 

To the County Superintendent and Teachers: 

Educational results and good teaching generally are not 
often secured in a shiftless-looking building in which neith- 
er patrons, pupils, nor teachers take any pride. Indefinite- 
ness has been removed at this point through the standard 
school. In the larger towns and cities pressure of public 
sentiment and the comment of visitors will sooner or later 
force good educational conditions — and they are improv- 
ing constantly. Rural communities need to be shown and 
inspired by educational leaders and we have sent diplomas 
to more than two hundred county schools where the super- 
intendents have certified to the fact that they have meas- 
ured up to the standard in every particular. There are a 
number of localities in the State where the feeling is that 
no community in the county is able to bring its school up 
to these very reasonable requirements. I cannot help but 
think that this is a mistaken view and that some standard 
schools could be secured in every county in Georgia and 
that these would serve to inspire the others to progress. 
Superintendents have written that the use of this efficiency 
test has developed more progress in the past 12 months 
than for years previous in the way of improvement. The 
plan is of no value, however, where it is not used or applied 
and I earnestly hope we will have the effort at least of 
every superintendent in the State to have his county repre- 
sented on this roll of honor. The list will be published in 
the next Annual Report. The standard is not unreasonably 
high and no more than the Georgia parent has the right to 
expect. Copies should be posted in every county school 
room in the State and can be secured for this purpose at 
any time on application to the State Department of Edu- 
cation. To be entitled to a diploma a school should measure 
up to the standard in the following particulars: 

38 



I. The Teacher. 

1. Good Teaching. 

2. Good Order and Management. 

3. First Grade Certificate. 

4. Full, Neat, and Accurate School Register. 

5. Daily Program Posted in Room. 

6. Teachers' Manual on Desk. 

II. Grounds. 

1. Good Condition. 

2. Playgrounds. 

3. School Garden. 

4. Two Separate Sanitary Closets. 

III. Building. 

1. Painted Outside. 

2. Plastered, or Ceiled and Painted. 

3. No Leaks. 

4. Windows without Broken Panes. 

5. Cloak Rooms. 

6. Good Doors with Locks and Keys. 

7. Clean and Well-kept. 

IV. Equipment. 

1. Patent Modern Desks. 

2. At least 20 Lineal feet of Blackboard per Room. 

3. Building Comfortably Heated and Ventilated. 

4. Framed Pictures on the Wall. 

5. Dictionary, Maps and Library. 

6. Sanitary Water Supply. 

V. Associated Activities. 

1. Manual Arts, Corn, Canning, Pig, Poultry, or Cook- 
ing Club. 

VI. Salary of Teacher. 

At least $40 per month. 

VII. Term. 

At least seven months. 

39 



